Re-usable container with disposable cover



T. E. BETNER 2,837,236

RE-USABLE CONTAINER WITH DISPOSABLE COVER June 3, 1958 Filed March 5, 1954 f 14A is LOA IIII'IIJ cover.

tegral peripheral flange which is heat-sealed to a cone-,1.

United Statesv Patent RE-USABLE CONTAINER WITH DISPOSABLE COVER Thomas E. Betner, Bryn Mawr, Pa. Application March 3, 1954, Serial'No. 413,779

5 Claims. (Cl. 220--54) This invention relates to containers which during shipment and display, for example, provide a hermetic seal for protection of the container contents and which, when such seal is broken, may thereafter be used for safe storage of the partially depleted contents or for other pur poses.

In accordance with the present invention, the container consists of a body, a re-usable cover and a disposable The body is preformed of plastic and has an insponding flange of the disposable cover. The detachment of the container seal-formed by the heat-sealed flanges leaves the container body and the re-usable cover;

intact for re-use. In some forms of the invention, the

disposable cover is external to the re-usable cover andpositively retains it in position during shipment and display whereas in other forms of the invention, the reusable cover is external ,to the disposable cover and overlies the seal between the container body and the 'dis-- posable cover.

The invention further resides in features ofconstruca tion, combination and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

For a more detailed understanding ofthe invention, and for illustration of various embodiments thereof, refponents of Fig. 1 sealed in closed-container relation by a disposable cover;

Fig. 3 is a partial, sectional view corresponding with Fig. 2 after removal of the seal and the disposable cover;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in sectin,'0f the re-usable body and cover components of a modification,

of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial, sectional view showing the components of Fig. 4 sealed in closed-container relation by a disposable cover; 1.v

Fig. 6 is a partial, sectional view corresponding with Fig. 5 after removal of the seal and the disposable cover;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partlyin section, of the re-usable body and cover components of a third form of re-usable container;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view showing the components of Fig. 7 sealed in closed-container relation by a disposable cover; Y i

Fig. 9 is a partial, sectional view corresponding" with Fig. 8 after removal of the seal and the disposable cover; and

Fig. 10 is a partial, elevational view, in section, of a fourth re-usable container. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the container 10Acomprises a body 11A of anysuitable size and shape forfreceiving the container contents which may be foodstuffs, chemicals or the like. The body 11A, like that of the other containers herein described, is of suitable plastic, such inserted therein with the disposable cover seam overly- 2,837,236 iatented June 3, 1958 ICC step injection molding process: the groove 13A in the underface of flange 12A may also be formed during the same operation or during the heat-sealing operation later described.

Adjacent its upper, open end, the external perimeter of the container body 11A is dimensioned and shaped snugly to fit the inner perimeter of the re-usable cover 14A which may be of any suitable material but preferably is of plastic, such as polyethylene, or one of its derivatives, and is pro-formed by an injection molding operation.

After the body 11A of the container is filled with its desired contents, the open end is closed by the re-usable cover 14A. A second, disposable cover 20A of heatsealing plastic, such as polyethylene or the like, is subsequently or concurrently applied to bring its integral outwardly extending flange 21A in position to overlie the body flange 12A (Fig. 2). The cover and body flanges 21A, 12A are then heat-sealed to each other to provide a hermetic seal 17A extending completely around the container to prevent access to its contents by contaminants. The second, sealed cover 20A also prevents any accidental dislodgment of cover 14A, and serves, if removed before the container reaches the ultimate user, as an indication of tampering.

The cover 20A may be pre-formed, as by injection molding, particularly when of substantial thickness: or,

alternatively, the cover 20A may be formed of a thin web of thermoplastic which is heated to permit it to be stretched over and into conformity with cover 14A just prior to its scaling to the body flange 12A.

When the need arises to use any part or all of the container contents, the seal 17A is removed, as by tearing along the weakened line provided by groove 13A of the body flange 12A. If cover 20A is of substantial thickness, it, too, is provided with a similar tearing groove around its upper face and opposite the groove 13A. If desired tofacilitate tearing off of the seal, either or both. of these grooves may have one or more extensions leading out to the outer edge of the container seal: such extensions can most readily be formed by the heat-sealing tools or dies. However, if the cover 20A is of thin sheet plastic, it need not be so grooved and its removal will accompany tearing of flange 12A.

The removal of the seal and the disposable cover 26A leaves both the body 11A and the re-usable cover 14A intact (Fig. 3) so that they may be used for storage of the depleted contents of the container or for any other subsequent re-use.

Except for differences specifically hereinafter mentioned, the containers 10B, 10C, 10D of Figs. 4 to-10 are generally similar to container 10A of Figs. l'te 3,

and, accordingly, the preceding description is generally similarly applicable thereto. For clarity, the correspond ing elements of the various modifications are identified by the same reference numbers, using however difierent letter suffixes for the respective modifications.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the flange 12B of container body 11B is in a plane flush with the open top of the body rather than being displaced below it as in Fig. 1. Also as distinguished from Fig. l, the internal perimeter of body 11B is shaped and dimensioned tightly to fit the external perimeter of the lower part of cover 'MB. After the body portion 11B is filled with the intended'contents, it is closed (Fig. 5) by the re-usable cover 14B which is soto provide a hermetic seal 17B extending peripherally ofthe container and having the purposes previously mentioned.

may be detached by tearing along the weakened line "eifi forded by groove 13B, or equivalent, leaving thebody 11B and the re-usable cover 143 intact for subsequent repeated re-use.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 9, the container body 153C is similar to body 11A of Fig. 1 in that its l eat sealing flange extends outwardly therefrom at some distance below the open top of the container. However, it differs therefrom in that body 11C is provided with an integral lockingibead or ring C which is received by cover groove lifiC deffined by the downwardly and inwardly directed flange 1:36 of the top wall of cover 14C and by the shoulder 19C extending inwardly from the side wall of cover 14C.

After the container body 110 has been filled with its intended contents, the cover 140 is snapped into closed posit-ion (Fig. 8 The body flange 120 is then heatsealed to flange 21C of the disposable cover C to pro vide a hermetic seal 17C circumscribing the container 106 for purposes previously described. This snap-on cover construction relieves the hermetic seal 17C of mechanical strains to which it may otherwise be subjected during handling of the sealed container.

When it is desired to remove any or all of the container contents, the container seal 17C and the disposable cover 20C may be removed and thrown away by tearing along the weakened line defined by groove 13C. The body 110 and the re-usable cover 140 are left intact (Fig. 9) so that the cover 14C may be snapped on and off as many times as desired for subsequent re-use of the container. This snap-on cover is preferred, as it not only relieves the hermetic seal of strains incident to handling of the sealed container, but also minimizes the possibility of any accidental dislodgment of cover 14C in subsequent use of the container.

In the modifications previously described, the peripheral seal extends outwardly from the side of the container, increasing its girth whereas in the container 10D of Fig. 10 the peripheral seal extends axially of the container. Thus, other dimensions remaining the same, the shelf and packing space requirements are less for sealed containers of the construction shown in Fig. 10. Specifically, the disposable cover 20D of this modification is pre-formed or shaped during heat-sealing to fit the inside of the container body 11D and is inserted or formed therein in inverted position (Fig. 10) with its flange 21D in engagement with top flange 12D of the body 11D. The flanges 12D, 21D are heat-sealed to provide a her metic seal 17D extending around and projecting up wardly from the now-closed top of the container. The re-usable cover 14D is then applied to overlie the sealed flanges: if desired, cover 14D may have an internal head to fit the body groove 13D and so minimizes any possibility of accidental removal.

When access to the container contents is desired, the cover 14D is removed and the container unsealed by tearing along the circumscribing line defined by the groove 13D of the body 11D. Such unsealin'g leaves both the body 11D and the re-usable cover 15D intact for subsequent re-use. If desired, the body 11D may be provided with a second groove 22]) for engagement by the internal locking ring of cover 141) in subsequent re-use after the peripheral seal has been removed.

It shall be understood the invention is not limited to the specific exemplary modifications described and that changes may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

Modifications herein disclosed but not specifically claimed are claimed in my copending application Serial No. 717,633, filed February 26, 1958.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a pro-formed body of semi rigid plastic material such as polyethylene or one of its derivatives, said body having at its open end an integral peripheral bead and having below said open an out wardly extending peripheral flange; a re-usable cover hav- "tags snewan extending externally of the container body belowsaid body bead and toward said body flange, said re-usable cover having a flange extending downwardly and inwardly of the container body, the adjacent faces of said cover flange and said cover side wall defining a cover groove having a peripheral fit with said head of the body to lock the cover thereto;- and a second, disposable cove? overlying said re-iis able cover and havin" a flange heat-sealed to said body flange to form a hermetic seal, said head of the body and said cooperating groove of the re-usable cover relieving said hermetic seal provided by the heat-sealed flanges of said disposable cover and of said body, from mechanical str'aihsincide'flt to handling of the container. 5

2-. A container as in claim 1 in which the body flange has a. groove spaced inwardly from its outer edge to define an annular heat-scalable area and hay tension of said groove leading. outwardly across to said outer edgefor tearing oftof the peripheral heat-- seal. provided by the heat-sealed flanges of the container body and the disposable cover.

3. Acontainer comprising heat-seala'b'le open-ended body-having an integral, peripheral flange adjacent its open end, a rflisable' cover, s'aid re' usab le' cover and said body having complementary heading and grooving, and a disposable heat-scalable cove'r having a peripheral flange for heat-sealing to' said flange of said container body to for'rn atear-ofl hermetic se'a'l, said complementary beading and grooving of the r'e-u's'ab'le cover relieving said hermetic seal provided by the heahsealed flanges of said disposable'cover and ofsaid body from mechanic Strains incident to handlingof the hea t seal'ed container minimising possibility of accidental spilling of the container contents after tear-oft of said hermetic seal provided by saidhe'avsaled flanges of the body and said disposable cover;

4. A container as in claim 3 in which the disposable coverfits-into the open end or the container bod with tlie hermetic peripheral seal formed by their heat-sealed flanges extending axial-1y of the container,- in which the re-usable cover fits over the open end of the container body to overlie and surround said peripheral hermetic seal of the sealed container, in which the reusable cover is removed prior 'to tear-61f of said hermetic seal, and in which said complementary beading and grooving mechanically locks said re-usable cover to the container both as hermetically sealed by the heat-sealed flanges of the container body and the disposable cover and as hermetie'a'lly unsealed by the tear-off of said heat-scale flanges:

5. A container as in claim 3 in which the body flange has a groove spaced inwardly from its outer edge to define an outer peripheral heat-sealing area'- and having an extension of said groove leading outwardly across said arose-id oiit'f edge-for tearin off or the peri heral 10 seal provided by the heat-sealed flanges or the container bee-y and the dispesabte est/er.

References Cited in the file of'th-is patent PATENTS 9633419" France L"; .l Dec. 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,837,236 June 3, 1958 Thomas E BB'bH'eI It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line '74, after "open" insert es end SEAL) I ttest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Oificer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A PRE-FORMED BODY OF SEMIRIGID PLASTIC MATERIAL SUCH AS POLYETHYLENE OR ONE OF ITS DERIVATIVES, SAID BODY HAVING AT ITS OPEN END AN INTEGRAL PERIPHERAL BEAD AND HAVING BELOW SAID OPEN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE, A RE-USABLE COVER HAVING A SIDE WALL EXTENDING EXTERNALLY OF THE CONTAINER BODY BELOW SAID BODY BEAD AND TOWARD SAID BODY FLANGE, SAID RE-USABLE COVER HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY OF THE CONTAINER BODY, THE ADJACENT FACES OF SAID COVER FLANGE AND SAID COVER SIDE WALL DEFINING A COVER GROOVE HAVING A PERIPHERAL SNAP FIT WITH SAID BEAD OF THE BODY TO LOCK THE COVER THERETO, AND A SECOND, DISPOSABLE COVER OVERLYING SAID RE-USABLE COVER AND HAVING A FLANGE HEAT-SEALED TO SAID BODY FLANGE TO FORM A HERMETIC SEAL, SAID BEAD OF THE BODY AND SAID COOPERATING GROOVE OF THE RE-USABLE COVER RELIEVING SAID HERMETIC SEAL PROVIDED BY THE HEAT-SEALED FLANGES OF SAID DISPOSABLE COVER AND OF SAID BODY, FROM MECHANICAL STRAINS INCIDENT TO HANDLING OF THE CONTAINER. 